Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what IT security strategy his Department has in place; what steps are being taken to ensure the policy is being followed; what policy is in place on the use of encryption when electronic data are sent externally; and what sanctions are in place for use should the policy not be followed.

Patrick McFadden: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which departments must adhere to.
	BERR is compliant with the security policies contained in the Government Security Policy Framework including those for information security and assurance.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's IT security hierarchy.

Patrick McFadden: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which departments must adhere to.
	It is not in the interests of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to the hierarchy of IT security within the Department. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what scanning for vulnerabilities his Department conducts of each of its IT devices; what method is used for IT device scans; and how many vulnerabilities have been detected as a result of such scans in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which departments must adhere to.
	It is not in the interest of the security of the Department, or that of the public, to disclose detailed information pertaining to electronic breaches of security of department's IT systems. Disclosing such information would enable criminals and those who would attempt to cause disruptive threats to the Department to deduce how to conduct attacks and therefore potentially enhance their capability to carry out such attacks.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department uses WPA2 encryption protocol on all its wireless networks.

Patrick McFadden: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which departments must adhere to.
	BERR is compliant with HMG IA Standard No 4 —Communication, Security and Cryptography for the encryption of data. BERR follows CESG guidance on the use of the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) communications security protocols in order to protect wireless networks carrying protectively marked (up to RESTRICTED/IL3) traffic. The configuration and operation standards for WPA2 are set out in CESG's Infosec Manual Y, Use of WPA2 Wireless Security in Government Systems.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what auditing his Department undertakes to ensure that IT security policies are being followed; and on how many occasions  (a) IT security policies have been breached by employees and  (b) a member of staff has been sanctioned for a breach of such policies in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: Information is a key asset to Government and their correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of HMG. The Security Policy Framework, the Data Handling Report and the National Information Assurance Strategy produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that government handles and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
	Compliance arrangements comprise a system of self assessment, accreditation, assurance reporting, audit and review.
	In the last 12 months less than five staff have broken BERR IT security policies and have been sanctioned for the breach.

Departmental Official Visits

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1311W, on departmental official visits, which agency deals with overnight accommodation for his Department; and how much has been paid to this agency since his Department was established.

Patrick McFadden: Expotel Hotel Reservations Ltd. deal with UK hotel accommodation on behalf of BERR.
	Since BERR was established on 28 June 2007, the following hotel accommodation has been booked through Expotel:
	28 June 2007 to 31 March 2008
	6,772 nights at a total cost of £705,175.32.
	1 April 2008 to 28 February 2009
	8,790 nights at a total cost of £955,329.40.
	BERR does not make a direct payment to Expotel. Expotel earn a commission from hotels for the bookings taken.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer of 11 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1125W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense other Ministers in his Department have undertaken since 1 January 2008.

Patrick McFadden: A Junior Minister in BERR has undertaken training at public expense since 1 January 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for the Forest of Dean of 3 December 2008 and 13 January 2009 on the withholding of retention sums, reference FD7218.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 3 March 2009
	 I responded to the hon. Member on 1 March 2009.

Council Tax: Valuation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the supplementary memorandum from the Valuation Office Agency presented to the Treasury Select Committee, dated 29 October 2008, which amendments to the council tax valuation lists involving movements to a lower band were made in each billing authority in each of the years to March  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008.

John Healey: This information is currently being assembled for publication. I will place a copy in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

Local Government

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities operate under the committee system of executive governance.

John Healey: The Local Government Act 2000 allowed local authorities whose area had a population of less than 85,000 on 30 June 1999 to adopt a reformed, streamlined committee system of governance instead of adopting governance arrangements with an executive. We understand that the following councils currently operate such a system:
	 Council
	Alnwick district council
	Babergh district council
	Barrow-in-Furness borough council
	Berwick-upon-Tweed borough council
	Brentwood borough council
	Bridgnorth district council
	Broxbourne borough council
	Castle Morpeth Borough Council
	Christchurch borough council
	Corby borough council
	Craven district council
	Daventry district council
	East Cambridgeshire district council
	East Dorset district council
	East Northamptonshire district council
	Ellesmere Port and Neston borough council
	Epsom and Ewell borough council
	Forest Heath district council
	Forest of Dean district council
	Gosport borough council
	Harlow district council
	Kennet district council
	Maldon district council
	Malvern Hills district council
	Melton borough council
	Mid Suffolk district council
	North Cornwall district council
	North Warwickshire borough council
	Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
	Penwith district council
	Purbeck District Council
	Ribble Valley District Council
	Richmondshire District Council
	Runnymede borough council
	Ryedale district council
	Selby district council
	South Derbyshire district council
	South Shropshire district council
	Tandridge District Council
	Teesdale district council.
	Tewkesbury borough council
	Torridge district council
	Tynedale district council
	Uttlesford district council
	Wear Valley district council
	Wellingborough borough council
	West Lindsey district council
	Weymouth and Portland borough council
	West Devon borough council
	We are aware that eight of these authorities are considering moving to executive arrangements.

Local Government Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what amount and proportion of central Government grant to local authorities was comprised of redistributed business rate revenue in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

John Healey: Business rates are pooled centrally and the revenue contributes towards funding local government alongside other grants.
	I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the details of amounts from the national business rates pool, the amounts of other grant payments and the proportion of the total that each represents, in each local authority area for 2007-08.

Local Government Services: Children

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have adopted National Indicator 116.

John Healey: 45 of local authorities have set targets in their local area agreements against National Indicator 116—Proportion of Children in Poverty. Performance data against the indicator apply to all areas in England, not just those areas that have a target.
	The full list of local authorities across England that adopted this and other National Indicators is available on the Improvement and Development Agency for local government (IDeA) website:
	http://www.idea.gov.uk

Non-Domestic Rates

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 20 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1277W, on non-domestic rates, in what circumstances and in respect of which types of property automated analytical techniques were used by the Valuation Office Agency in its preparatory work for the 2010 revaluation.

John Healey: Automated techniques have been used to inform the analysis of rents of industrial property in a limited number of local authority areas.
	All final valuations will be produced by VOA staff.

Regional Planning and Development

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 73-6WS, on departmental expenditure limits, which financial corrections to old European Regional Development Fund programmes the new provisions will cover.

John Healey: The departmental expenditure limits stated in the written ministerial statement of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, column 74WS, para. 4(c), cover financial corrections relating to 97-99 closure audits in the NW and NE.

Regional Planning and Development: EC Action

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 73-6WS, on departmental expenditure limits, to which programme areas the provision for bad debts on old European Regional Development Fund programmes relates.

John Healey: In the Spring Supplementary Estimate 2008-09, the Department sought non-cash provision of £8,000,000 to cover potential write-offs in respect of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes from the 1994-99 and 2000-06 programme rounds.

Film: Government Assistance

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the Government plans to further support the British film industry.

Barbara Follett: The Government's principal support for the UK film industry is through the film tax relief which encourages the sustainable production of culturally British films. Figures from HM Revenue and Customs tell us this provided £104 million to the industry between January 2007 and March 2008.
	The Government continue to support the British film industry through the UK Film Council. The Film Council is the Government's strategic agency for film and invests grant in aid and lottery money in developing new filmmakers, in funding exciting new British films and in getting a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. The Film Council also invests in training, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and in raising the profile of British films abroad.
	We are in continual dialogue with the Film Council about potential new methods and ways to improve current schemes to support the industry and to help filmmakers deliver the box office and awards successes we have seen recently.
	The Public Service Broadcasters, the BBC and Channel 4, also contribute support to the industry through their film divisions.

National Lottery

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was received by each of the National Lottery good causes in each year since 1995, expressed in 2008-09 prices.

Barbara Follett: The table shows the total income for each of the national lottery good causes for each financial year since 1995. Figures are adjusted to 2007-08 prices, using GDP deflators for the most recent year available from the Treasury. All figures are rounded to the nearest £000.
	The sport good cause comprises the following Lottery Distributing Bodies: UK Sport, Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, Sports Council Wales and Sport Scotland. The arts good cause comprises Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales, Arts Council Northern Ireland, Scottish Screen, UK Film Council and Scottish Arts Council. The millennium good cause comprises the Millennium Commission, which was dissolved in 2006-07. The heritage good cause comprises the Heritage Lottery Fund. The health, education, environment and charitable expenditure good cause comprises the Big Lottery Fund, which is the successor to the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund.
	
		
			   Amount adjusted to 2007-08 prices (£000) 
			  Sport  
			 1995-96 414,449,000 
			 1996-97 412,903,000 
			 1997-98 461,478,000 
			 1998-99 376,564,000 
			 1999-2000 336,684,000 
			 2000-01 354,988,000 
			 2001-02 355,436,000 
			 2002-03 294,489,000 
			 2003-04 252,162,000 
			 2004-05 258,795,000 
			 2005-06 258,242,000 
			 2006-07 219,656,000 
			 2007-08 217,040,000 
			   
			  The Arts  
			 1995-96 414,307,000 
			 1996-97 410,549,000 
			 1997-98 449,106,000 
			 1998-99 350,408,000 
			 1999-2000 322,940,000 
			 2000-01 333,917,000 
			 2001-02 344,006,000 
			 2002-03 288,519,000 
			 2003-04 251,233,000 
			 2004-05 257,352,000 
			 2005-06 256,301,000 
			 2006-07 216,497,000 
			 2007-08 214,523,000 
			   
			  Millennium  
			 1995-96 415,414,000 
			 1996-97 418,542,000 
			 1997-98 505,854,000 
			 1998-99 487,632,000 
			 1999-2000 431,085,000 
			 2000-01 412,032,000 
			 2001-02 164,547,000 
			 2002-03 24,396,000 
			 2003-04 7,140,000 
			 2004-05 6,568,000 
			 2005-06 4,162,000 
			 2006-07 1,651,000 
			 2007-08 — 
			   
			  Heritage  
			 1995-96 413,487,000 
			 1996-97 412,764,000 
			 1997-98 464,612,000 
			 1998-99 385,851,000 
			 1999-2000 355,982,000 
			 2000-01 380,591,000 
			 2001-02 377,282,000 
			 2002-03 331,955,000 
			 2003-04 273,268,000 
			 2004-05 287,588,000 
			 2005-06 285,886,000 
			 2006-07 238,112,000 
			 2007-08 217,043,000 
			   
			  Health, education, the environment and charitable expenditure  
			 1995-96 415,122,000 
			 1996-97 412,853,000 
			 1997-98 596,000,000 
			 1998-99 783,272,000 
			 1999-2000 670,433,000 
			 2000-01 640,705,000 
			 2001-02 895,866,000 
			 2002-03 870,631,000 
			 2003-04 755,864,000 
			 2004-05 774,797,000 
			 2005-06 770,942,000 
			 2006-07 648,155,000 
			 2007-08 651,124,000

Departmental Public Consultation

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what payments for  (a) polling and  (b) other services his Department has made to (i) Deborah Mattinson and (ii) Opinion Leader Research Limited since 31 December 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: No payments have been made centrally by the MOD to either Deborah Mattinson or Opinion Leader Research Limited since December 2007.
	Central payments represent some 95 per cent. of the departmental total and exclude only those payments made (a) on behalf of other Government Departments or by other Government Departments on the MOD's behalf, (b) by the MOD's trading funds (which lie outside the MOD's accounting boundary), (c) locally by the Department, or (d) in relation to collaborative projects where the payments are made through international procurement agencies or overseas governments.

Northern Ireland Security Guard Service

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 192W, on the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service, what progress has been made on the review of the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service; and when he expects the review to be completed.

Bob Ainsworth: The Northern Ireland Security Guard Service (NISGS) are MOD employees and are a professional, armed and trained body who provide security at MOD establishments in Northern Ireland. The NISGS review was initiated in order to examine the structure and responsibilities of the NISGS as part of the normalization process. It was neither designed as a review into NISGS capability nor as a security review. It was divided into two parts: Part 1 examined the establishment (numbers) of the NISGS to support the reducing number of military bases and examine their roles and responsibilities; Part 2 was to determine future requirements including the retention of special constable (SC) status.
	The paper has been staffed through the chain of command and the review is in its final stage. The decision on removal or retention of SC status is pending until consultation with trade unions is complete and resource implications are fully addressed.
	We expected the review to be completed by the end of 2008 but this deadline was internal and self-imposed by HQ NI and 38 (Irish) Brigade. The review was more complex than originally anticipated with a broad range of subject matter experts' views to be sought. Further work was therefore directed to ensure all resource implications and advice had been properly addressed. The report date was therefore slipped to the end of March 2009, with the full knowledge of both the MOD and trade unions. Trade union consultation on the findings of the review will commence shortly, before promulgation of the outcome to NISGS personnel.

Members: Correspondence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Buckingham of 20 October 2008, on grants for home insulation.

Joan Ruddock: I signed a reply to the hon. Member on 9 March and apologise for the delay, which was due to departmental re-organisation.

British Council: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1413W, on terrorism: finance, how much the British Council plans to spend  (a) in each country and  (b) on each type of project in each of the three years from 2008-09 to 2010-11.

Caroline Flint: The British Council, received £6 million funding, over three years, for their Reconnect programme. The main aim of the initiative is to train 10,000 overseas young leaders at most risk of radicalisation or extremism. Decisions on particular funding allocations for countries or projects are based on a number of factors including the priority the Foreign and Commonwealth Office accords a particular country as well as the quality of particular project proposals. This programme will be monitored regularly to ensure it remains on track and will be evaluated on completion. The British Council has ongoing professional evaluation in place for all its programmes.

Departmental Training

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1845W, on departmental training, when the audit of skills in his Department is expected to be completed.

David Miliband: We have identified and defined the core skills needed to deliver the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s departmental strategic objectives, and existing levels of proficiency. We are also defining specialist skills which reflect the work of the FCO across its network. As part of this process we mapped skills required against roles within the organisation. The next step will be to record the skills we have throughout our work force. This will be an ongoing process which will help inform decisions on learning and development, recruitment and workforce planning.
	I am placing in the Library of the House information on our skills work. The documents set out our core skills, which are compatible with Professional Skills for Government, and details and explanations of levels of proficiency. The documents also give details of the mapping exercise which identified skills within the organisation and contributed to the development of the core skills framework.

Iran: Arms Trade

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of breaches of the prohibition in UN Security Council Resolution 1747 against the sale, transfer or supply of arms or related material from Iran; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: I am aware of reports that Iran has breached UN Security Council Resolution 1747 by attempting to transfer arms-related material via the MV Monchegorsk, a Cypriot-flagged vessel.
	We understand that the MV Monchegorsk was ordered into Limassol harbour by the government of Cyprus in late January, where it now remains. Cypriot Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou has said that the Monchegorsk was in "clear" breach of UN sanctions banning Iran from exporting arms and related material. Cyprus has dealt with the situation effectively and entirely in line with UN and EU requirements.
	We continue to urge Iran to comply with international law. It is unacceptable that Iran acts in breach of UN Resolutions and such action only serves to further undermine international confidence in Iran.

Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek agreement on the extension of the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia beyond 19 March 2009.

David Miliband: The UK supports the mandate given to the African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by the UN, most recently through UN Security Council Resolution 1863. This resolution provides a mandate to AMISOM until 16 July 2009, as well as providing for a package of support to that mission. The AU's own mandate for this mission is a matter for AU member states themselves, but the UK has encouraged these states to extend this mandate beyond 19 March 2009, including by my noble Friend Lord Malloch-Brown at the AU Summit on 1-2 February 2009. The UK is also supporting the implementation of AMISOM's mandate financially, with a contribution of £10 million during this financial year toward the costs of the mission. We also intend to contribute to the UN trust fund and logistical support package for AMISOM authorised under resolution 1863.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the implementation by the Chinese government of security measures in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising.

Bill Rammell: We have received several reports of increased security measures in Tibet, including significant increases in numbers of People's Armed Police and People's Liberation Army forces into Tibetan areas, severely restricting Tibetans' right of freedom of expression.
	We have also received claims from several sources that the so-called 'Strike Hard' campaign launched in January 2009 has in fact been used for political purposes, rather than its stated aim of cracking down on criminal activity. We are concerned at such reports, and continue to urge the Chinese authorities to respect the right of peaceful expression and assembly in Tibet.

Cord Blood

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the report on Cord blood banking in the UK—an international comparison of policy and practice;
	(2)  what plans he has for the involvement of  (a) Government bodies,  (b) the third sector and  (c) the private sector in his Department's consideration of the collection and use of cord blood.

Dawn Primarolo: Following the publication of the international comparison report on cord blood banking policy and practice, the Department is assessing the need to enhance national health service cord blood collection services to ensure the United Kingdom remains at the forefront of this work and able to meet its international obligations in matching stem cell donations to patients in need of a transplant.
	The two largest UK bodies providing stem cells for unrelated transplant, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and the Anthony Nolan Trust, have been asked to report back to us by the end of March 2009. There are no plans to involve other organisations at this time.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 4 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1353-56W, on the departmental internet, how many hits each of his Department's websites received in each of the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Page hits for the main departmental websites are detailed as follows.
	Page hits for the Department's website:
	www.dh.gov.uk
	March 2008 to February 2009—64,678,663
	
		
			   Number of visits  Page impressions 
			 February 2009 1,361,442 5,642,052 
			 January 2009 1,507,257 6,205,364 
			 December 2008 1,041,753 4,403,460 
			 November 2008 1,278,086 5,578,886 
			 October 2008 1,257,254 5,555,268 
			 September 2008 1,126,097 4,717,921 
			 August 2008 859,571 3,647,145 
			 July 2008 1,226,589 5,122,615 
			 June 2008 1,389,120 5,883,074 
			 May 2008 1,316,806 5,842,608 
			 April 2008 1,402,508 6,474,523 
			 March 2008 1,191,293 5,605,747 
		
	
	Page hits for:
	www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk
	March 2008 to February 2009—1,756,641
	
		
			   Number of visits  Page impressions 
			 February 2009 44,594 133,699 
			 January 2009 47,567 143,423 
			 December 2008 52,483 156,840 
			 November 2008 61,437 181,291 
			 October 2008 65,873 190,170 
			 September 2008 47,812 133,031 
			 August 2008 43,895 126,039 
			 July 2008 55,151 137,455 
			 June 2008 68,211 147,110 
			 May 2008 80,641 145,979 
			 April 2008 79,440 138,647 
			 March 2008 65,210 122,957 
		
	
	Page hits for:
	www.nhs.uk
	March 2008 to February 2009—199,738,205
	
		
			   Number of visits  Page impressions 
			 February 2009 5,730,784 28,675,990 
			 January 2009 5,653,486 28,419,522 
			 December 2008 4,057,157 19,962,397 
			 November 2008 4,243,219 22,078,113 
			 October 2008 3,118,019 14,362,161 
			 September 2008 2,636,926 12,982,408 
			 August 2008 2,566,666 13,004,201 
			 July 2008 2,834,392 14,488,807 
			 June 2008 2,522,515 12,837,873 
			 May 2008 2,239,637 11,122,658 
			 April 2008 2,053,826 11,436,278 
			 March 2008 1,927,864 10,367,797 
			  Notes:  Explanation of terms Visits: the number of times a visitor has entered a website within a given timescale. Thus, multiple visits are recorded. Page impressions: also known as 'hits', this is when a website page is displayed on a visitor's browser. To provide page hits for the other websites listed in the 4 February answer would incur disproportionate cost.

Eating Disorders

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government plans to increase the number of consultants specialising in the treatment of eating disorders.

Phil Hope: It is for local national health service employers to recruit their own staff to best meet the health care needs of their local population.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average hospital waiting time for each specialty was for each acute hospital trust in England in each quarter since 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: The median referral to treatment waiting times by treatment function for each national health service acute trust in each month for which figures are available since 2007 are shown in the document, "Median by month acute trusts", which shows data for each organisation as it was submitted to the Department in the relevant year, has been placed in the Library.
	Nationally, the median referral to treatment time waited of patients who were admitted for treatment has come down from 18.8 weeks when data was first collected in March 2007 to 7.6 weeks in December 2008. Nationally, the median referral to treatment time waited for non-admitted patients was 4.1 weeks in December 2008, compared to 7.4 weeks in August 2007 when data was first collected.

Prostate Cancer

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps the NHS Screening Programme will take to inform GPs about the prostate cancer risk management programme;
	(2)  when he expects the revised prostate cancer risk management programme to be published;
	(3)  what plans he has to  (a) monitor and  (b) evaluate the use of the revised prostate cancer risk management programme by GPs.

Ann Keen: A comprehensive strategy has been developed to inform general practitioners (GPs) of the revised Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme (PCRMP) when it is relaunched in summer 2009. This includes:
	a medical press launch;
	proactive educational programmes;
	development of a slide set;
	a road show using the slide set, co-ordinated by the British Association of Urological Surgeons;
	a web cast;
	making the PCRMP materials available on GP information technology systems;
	a peer reviewed paper in a peer reviewed journal; and
	a British Medical Journal e-learning module.
	The Cancer Research UK Primary Care Education Research Group will undertake a detailed evaluation of the use and effectiveness of the revised PCRMP packs, as they did with the original packs.

Schizophrenia

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community treatment orders have been issued for patients suffering from paranoid schizophrenia since 3 November 2008.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not available.

Schizophrenia

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 184W, on schizophrenia, which severe and enduring conditions are sufficient to make it inappropriate to allow a mental health patient a choice over his treatment.

Phil Hope: Each mental health service user should have an opportunity to be actively involved in agreeing their treatment plans wherever possible. This is not dependent on diagnosis, but may be affected by the severity of the condition at any particular time.

Identity Cards: Marketing

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the national identity scheme 2008-09 budget is allocated for publicity and promotional purposes.

Shahid Malik: IPS has budgeted to spend approximately 0.25 per cent. of the 2008-09 budget for the National Identity Scheme for publicity and advertising.

Written Questions: Government Responses

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 28 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2776W, on ministerial duties, when she plans to write to the hon. Member for Hornchurch with a substantive response; and what the reason is for the time taken to provide the information requested.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to the hon. Member on 12 March. My Department makes every effort to answer all Members correspondence within a reasonable time scale. However, this is not always possible.

Terrorism: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1413W, on terrorism: finance, how much of the £300 million to be contributed by his Department to tackling terrorism and promoting understanding overseas for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 is funding additional to previously allocated expenditure;
	(2)  how much of the £300 million his Department plans to spend on tackling terrorism and promoting understanding overseas will be spent  (a) in each country and  (b) on each type of project in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11;
	(3)  how he plans to assess the effectiveness of his Department's expenditure to tackle terrorism and promote understanding overseas.

Gareth Thomas: Pursuant to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's answer of 3 March 2009 highlighting expenditure to tackle radicalisation and promote understanding overseas, £300 million represents the portion of the Department for International Development's (DFID) budget that will be spent on poverty reduction programmes that help to address the development-related causes of radicalisation.
	The £300 million (over the period 2008-11) will be spent in Pakistan (£131 million), Bangladesh (£67 million), Somalia (£7 million), Kenya (£17 million), Sudan (£19 million), Yemen (£37 million), Afghanistan (£19 million), and Iraq (£1 million). These figures are subject to revision based on modifications to DFID's country assistance programmes.
	The programmes in these countries will help to build government institutions that are more efficient and accountable to their people, promote good governance and the rule of law, education reform and skills provision, access to equitable and affordable justice and police reform. These programmes will contribute to counter-radicalisation objectives by addressing the underlying social, political and economic grievances that can bring some communities to support violent extremism.

Zimbabwe: Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Zimbabwe.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development's (DFID) programme in Zimbabwe is focused on providing immediate humanitarian support and broader livelihoods assistance to meet the essential needs of the people of Zimbabwe. This year we have provided: £9 million to the World Food programme for food aid; £10 million to support the growing season; and £10 million to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. We also recently made £10 million available to tackle the cholera outbreak and support life-saving essential health systems. We anticipate a total spend of £49 million this financial year across these vital areas of support. Our aid is channelled through the UN and NGOs and not the Government of Zimbabwe.
	We anticipate the need for sustained large-scale humanitarian support from the international community for the foreseeable future and we are monitoring the situation very closely. However, a sustainable and credible political solution is required to fully address Zimbabwe's problems. In principle, we are ready to support economic and social recovery in Zimbabwe but this will depend on the new government's commitment to reform, including a clear commitment to macroeconomic stabilisation and sound economic management; restoration of the rule of law; commitment to democracy; respect for human rights, and the guarantee of full humanitarian access.

Michael Shields

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to take a decision in relation to whether to grant a pardon for Michael Shields; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: On 17 December the High Court decided that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Jack Straw) could consider an application from Mr. Shields for a free pardon and he immediately appointed senior counsel to advise him. On counsel's advice he asked the Merseyside police to look at certain matters arising on Mr. Shields' application.
	My right hon. Friend is determined to make the best and fairest decision that he can, but he can do so only after properly assessing all of the material that is available and his consideration needs to be thorough. Regrettably he does not anticipate that it will be possible to make a decision before the end of May at the earliest.

Cabinet

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what plans he has to hold Cabinet meetings outside London in the future;
	(2)  what proportion of the cost of the Cabinet meeting in Liverpool on 8 January 2009 was attributable to  (a) transport,  (b) policing,  (c) catering and  (d) additional costs.

Gordon Brown: The visit of the Cabinet to Liverpool on 8 January 2009 was linked with a large number of ministerial visits across the region; there was a public engagement event with around 170 people and a formal Cabinet meeting. The cost of the public engagement event and the cabinet meeting was approximately £76,620, excluding VAT. The figure includes the cost of hiring the venue, catering, associated security and delegate management. There are no separate figures for the Cabinet meeting. In addition, Departments and agencies will have incurred costs in terms of travel, staff time and other support. The cost of any security provided by the police is a matter for the relevant police force.
	Further such visits are planned for the future; announcements of these will be made at the appropriate time.

Departmental Buildings

John Baron: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much has been spent on  (a) maintaining,  (b) decorating and  (c) otherwise improving Number 10 Downing Street since July 2007;
	(2)  much has been spent on  (a) maintaining,  (b) decorating and  (c) otherwise improving his Office's buildings in the last five years; how much has been spent on wallpaper since 2001; and what plans there are for further spending on such decoration.

Nick Hurd: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent on the refurbishment and maintenance of  (a) Downing Street offices and  (b) the 10 and 11 Downing Street flats in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Department spent on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers at Nos. 10 and 12 Downing Street in each month since July 2007.

Gordon Brown: The Downing street estate is undergoing essential maintenance work required to maintain it to the standards appropriate to its Grade 1/2 listed status required by English Heritage.
	The total resource expenditure for maintaining the entire Downing street estate for the financial year 2007-08 was £1.288 million. This includes the exceptional resource cost of £810,664, which has already been published, for essential work to the exterior of the Downing street estate again in consultation with English Heritage. Resource spend includes maintenance of fixed assets, the fabric of the building, floors, walls and ceilings and the upkeep and repair of heritage assets.
	Information on capital expenditure on improving Cabinet Office buildings, including the Downing street estate for 2007-08 is included in the annual Cabinet Office Resource Accounts. Copies are available in the Library of the House. Capital works included railings alterations, ICT cabling installation and alteration, Front Hall renovation, Cabinet Room redecoration, infrastructure work such as new risers for ICT cabling, repair of collapsed drain, installation of new Building Management System and energy monitoring equipment, access improvements works, such as corridor ramping and dropped kerbs in Downing street and security works.
	As part of the resource spend, the cost of routine maintenance on the flat above 11 Downing street for the most recent financial years is set out as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 35,293 
			 2006-07 14,832 
			 2007-08 28,150 
		
	
	Expenditure on other official residences is a matter for the relevant Department. Information for previous years is a matter of public record and can be found in the official report.

Diplomatic Service

Keith Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1198W, on the diplomatic service, on how many occasions he has appointed a special representative or special envoy to a particular region since 1997.

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1198W, on the Diplomatic Service, 
	(1)  how many  (a) special representatives and  (b) special envoys he and his predecessor have appointed to a country or region since 1997; and how many of those appointees are still in post;
	(2)  from which budget the funding for special representatives and special envoys appointed by him to particular countries and regions is drawn.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 23 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 553-4W. Information for previous years is a matter of public record and can be found in the  Official Report.

Group of Twenty

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  with which overseas Heads of State he plans to have bilateral meetings during the G20 Summit in London in April 2009;
	(2)  whether he has invited any foreign heads of state to 10 Downing Street in April 2009;
	(3)  which foreign heads of state and government have signified their intention  (a) to attend and  (b) not to attend the G20 summit in April 2009.

Gordon Brown: Details of those who have been invited to the G20 summit in April are available on the London summit website:
	http://www.londonsummit.gov.uk/en/media-centre/latest-news/?view=News&id=13821294
	A copy of this webpage has been placed in the Library of the House.

Civil Service Agencies

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role is played by his Department in the setting of budgets for each of its executive agencies.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Of the Department's seven executive agencies, four are designated as Trading Funds and are therefore funded primarily through fees. For the remaining agencies, Department officials provide a sponsorship role in reviewing and challenging agency plans in light of the funding available to the Department and to adjust the plans where necessary.
	Each of the Department's executive agencies then completes a Business Plan that is published before the commencement of each financial year setting out the direction for the agency's activities and the resources required to deliver them. Department officials also review these Business Plans to ensure that they include the Department's policy requirements and to align the plans with delivery of the Department's own objectives. The plans are then subject to agreement with Ministers.

Driving Tests: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people  (a) took and  (b) passed their driving test in (i) Hemel Hempstead and (ii) Hertfordshire in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no driving test centres within Hemel Hempstead. Data for car and motorcycle practical tests in Hertfordshire is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Hertfordshire 
			   Conducted  Passed  Percentage Pass 
			  Car
			 2007-08 42,123 18,825 44.7 
			 2006-07 38,994 17,546 45.0 
			 2005-06 35,845 15,828 44.2 
			 2004-05 29,757 13,209 44.4 
			 2003-04 22,361 10,429 46.6 
			 
			  Motorcycle
			 2007-08 1,163 750 64.5 
			 2006-07 1,215 794 65.3 
			 2005-06 1,461 896 61.3 
			 2004-05 1,420 865 60.9 
			 2003-04 1,318 873 66.2 
		
	
	Practical tests for lorry and bus driving categories are not conducted at test centres within Hertfordshire.

Heathrow Airport

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what risk registers  (a) are in use and  (b) have been in use in the last two years within his Department's Aviation Directorate in relation to projects regarding Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 25 February 2009
	The Department's Aviation Directorate makes regular use of risk registers to monitor strategic projects, as well as non-strategic projects and business as usual activities relating to regulatory issues, airport capacity and operations, aviation and the environment, and aviation safety'. In line with this, risks relating to Heathrow airport were reported to the Heathrow Project Board until October 2007 and to the Aviation Programme Board thereafter.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons he plans to withdraw from public scrutiny responses to the Adding Capacity at Heathrow consultation on 10 April 2009.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has no plans to withdraw from public scrutiny the responses to the Adding Capacity at Heathrow consultation. The complete set of nearly 70,000 responses has been made available for inspection in the Department until 10 April and we consider this to be a reasonable period to provide this facility. After 10 April, the Department will allow interested parties to view named responses on request.

Lorries: Licensing

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions his Department has had with its executive agencies on setting testing fees for goods vehicles, their drivers and operators.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is responsible for setting and administering testing fees for goods vehicles and their operators while the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is responsible for setting the fees for the testing of goods vehicle drivers.
	Since VOSA and DSA are established as a Trading Funds they are required to set fees to meet their outgoings. On 27 October 2008, DSA issued a public consultation on changes to the level of fees applicable to the practical driving test for goods vehicles while on 6 November 2008, VOSA issued a public consultation on changes to the level and structure of its fees for the testing of goods vehicles and operators, both to come into effect in April of this year.
	This followed extensive discussion with Department officials that included analysis to ensure that:
	proposed fees have been calculated in line with Government guidance on the setting of statutory fees;
	that there are sound and appropriate assumptions upon which the agency's financial forecasts are based;
	that the plans provide sufficient revenues to support the policies and objectives of the Department.
	Following closure of the public consultations in January 2009, the agencies have prepared analyses of the responses from the consultation that form the basis of recommendations to the Minister on what fee changes should be made in April.

Motor Vehicles: Testing

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 2123-5W, on A303: inspections, if he will provide equivalent information for each other Vehicle and Operator Services Agency checkpoint in England and Wales.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has over 1,000 checkpoint sites, to find out the requested enforcement information would result in disproportionate cost being incurred.

Roads: Safety Measures

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 9-10W, on cycling: helmets, if he will take steps to ensure the earlier publication of his Department's final reports on road safety and cycling issues.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department is working with the contractors, TRL, to ensure the road safety and cycle project maintains on schedule with the publication of the project's final reports in autumn 2010.

Bradford and Bingley

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable he has set for the appointment of an independent valuer in respect of the compensation scheme for shareholders of Bradford and Bingley.

Ian Pearson: On 10 March 2009, the Government announced that it was inviting applications for the position of independent valuer to assess any compensation that may be payable to former holders of the shares in Bradford and Bingley plc that were transferred to the Treasury in September last year (and other specified persons affected by the transfer).
	The closing date for applications is 7 April 2009. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present to a selection panel in May 2009. Thereafter, the panel will submit their recommendation to Treasury Ministers. Further details can be found on the Treasury website at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/valuer

Consolidated Fund: Fines

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 133W, on Consolidated Fund: fines, which public bodies are required to surrender their revenue from fines to the Consolidated Fund.

Yvette Cooper: For all central Government Departments most cash receipts, either by specific legislation or by the Civil List Act 1952, are required to be paid into the Consolidated Fund. Local authorities are not required to surrender income from fines to the Consolidated Fund.
	The requirement to surrender income ceases to apply where the Treasury lays an omnibus minute, alongside each Supply Estimates publication, under section 2 of the Government Resource and Accounts Act 2000. This enables departments to use specified income to offset the costs of their expenditure. The Supply Estimates provide details of the income appropriated in aid.
	The Resource Accounts of each department contain information on both amounts appropriated in aid and those surrendered as Consolidated Fund Extra Receipts. The level of detail disclosed on fines will vary between the accounts and will be influenced by factors such as the materiality of fines to the figures in the accounts.
	Details of fines are not separately identifiable within the Consolidated Fund's receipts.

Members: Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford's letter of 13 October 2008, Treasury reference: 1/6189/2008, concerning Mr Richard Macaskill of Chelmsford; and what the reason is for the time taken to reply.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-8WS, on Government infrastructure investment, what the planned source will be of the professional lending skills to be used by the Treasury in lending to private finance initiative projects.

Ian Pearson: HM Treasury will use the skills of a combination of Treasury employees and secondees.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-8WS, on Government infrastructure investment, what estimate he has made of the average return on capital committed to private finance initiative projects which have been completed and refinanced to date.

Ian Pearson: The private finance initiative (PFI) should only be used where it demonstrates value for money in absolute terms and when compared with other forms of procurement. Competition among PFI providers is designed to ensure that the best value for money options are selected, helping to ensure that investors' returns on capital invested in PFI projects are appropriate.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-8WS, on Government infrastructure investment, what his latest estimate is of the number of private finance initiative projects for which the Government will provide the full amount of senior debt.

Ian Pearson: The Government will determine which projects will receive what quantity of senior debt on a project-by-project basis.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-8WS, on Government infrastructure investment, what steps his Department is taking on management of credit risk in circumstances where the Government is providing the full amount of senior debt required by a private finance initiative infrastructure project.

Ian Pearson: The Treasury's lending facility will operate at arm's length from the authorities procuring private finance initiative (PFI) projects. It will operate on a commercial basis with robust risk management procedures and will lend on commercial terms.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-8WS, on Government infrastructure investment, 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure value for money from Government lending to private finance initiative infrastructure projects;
	(2)  whether his Department's value for money assessment guidance will apply in determining the projects for which the Government will provide the full amount of senior debt for a private finance initiative infrastructure project;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of any comparative cost-benefit analysis of switching to alternative procurement methods in private finance initiative infrastructure projects undertaken by or on behalf of his Department.

Ian Pearson: HM Treasury's Green Book (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_greenbook_guidance. htm) states that all new policies, programmes and projects should be subject to comprehensive assessment, including an appraisal of value for money.
	Private Finance Initiative projects are required to further test value for money using tailored qualitative and quantitative appraisals which must form part of the project's business case (http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_vfm_index.htm).
	Competition among PFI providers is designed to ensure that the best value for money options are selected.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-8WS, on Government infrastructure investment, when he expects his Department's lending to private finance initiative projects to have been repaid.

Ian Pearson: The Treasury will lend to projects only where appropriate funding is not available from the market. It will be a temporary intervention. As with normal commercial lending these loans will bear interest and will be repaid over the life of the project.
	The Treasury envisages selling the loans it makes prior to their maturity as favourable market conditions return.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-8WS, on Government infrastructure investment, 
	(1)  what pricing structure the Government will use when providing the full amount of senior debt required by a private finance initiative infrastructure project;
	(2)  what criteria the Government will use to determine appropriate means of funding provision for a private finance initiative infrastructure project.

Ian Pearson: It is intended that the Government will lend to PFI projects on commercial terms, alongside other commercial lenders and/or the European Investment Bank.
	The Government will only lend to those PFI projects that cannot raise sufficient debt finance on acceptable terms.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-8WS, on Government infrastructure investment, how the private finance initiative infrastructure projects receiving additional Government funding will be selected.

Ian Pearson: All PFI projects in procurement (that have, to date, issued a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU)) will be eligible for this finance from the Government. Future projects intending to go to market soon will also be eligible, provided they meet the usual value for money and affordability criteria, and subject to Treasury approval before issuing their OJEU notice.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-8WS, on Government infrastructure investment, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that returns to private investors on private finance initiative projects supported by his Department's lending reflect the transfer of risk back to the public purse implicit in such support.

Ian Pearson: Retaining the PFI structure will mean that the private sector will continue to bear the risk of cost over runs and delays. As such equity investors will continue to bear the primary risk in these projects. Where available, private sector debt will continue to be provided and will therefore also take risk.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1423W, on the Royal Bank of Scotland, what tax losses and allowances will not be claimed by Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS); what amount of tax losses and allowances will be forgone by RBS; which RBS tax losses and allowances will be set against previous profits; and what the total figure that could be claimed by RBS in tax losses and allowances is.

Ian Pearson: RBS have agreed not to claim certain UK tax losses and allowances for a number of years, meaning that when they do return to profitability, they will not be able to benefit from the losses accrued in the intervening period. Final arrangements are subject to ongoing discussions with, and quantification by, HMRC.
	Further information about RBS's undertakings will be available when all of the detailed terms of RBS's entry into the asset protection scheme have been finalised.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on  (a) alcohol and  (b) food in each of the last five years.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office hosts a limited number of receptions over a year to mark, for example St. David's Day, parliamentarians, journalists and those with an interest in Welsh affairs are invited. In some years these have been supplemented by joint Wales Office/National Assembly for Wales receptions. The cost over the last five years were:
	
		
			  £ 
			   On food  On alcohol 
			 2004-05 6,238 0 
			 2005-06 6,849 (1)0 
			 2006-07 12,302 1,182 
			 2007-08 7,664 1,752 
			 2008-09 3,617 990 
			 (1)( )In London. 
		
	
	In 2005-06 the cost of a Cardiff reception included alcohol, but this was not listed separately, therefore has been included in the figure for food.